Antonio Mcgowan
Testing perfume is an art. It's important to remember that a perfume's quality isn't determined by its strength, but by its resonance with you. When testing perfumes, it's best to test one perfume at a time to truly appreciate each note and nuance. Start by spraying the perfume on a blotter strip to smell the top notes without the influence of body chemistry. If you like the scent, test it on your skin to understand how it interacts with your body chemistry. Avoid testing more than two fragrances at a time on the skin, and don't spend more than 10-15 minutes smelling fragrances in a store as your nose will quickly go blind to the individual components. Take your time, and allow the fragrance to develop on your skin over time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of fragrances tested at once | 1-3 |
| Testing location | A place without competing smells |
| Testing tools | Blotter strips, pen, paper |
| Testing on blotter strips | Spray 2-3 times on the strip, wave under the nose, and inhale |
| Number of fragrances tested on skin | 1-2 |
| Testing on skin | Spray on pulse points like wrists, behind ears, or inner elbow |
| Time taken to test | 30 seconds-1 hour |
| Notes | Stronger fragrances do not equal better perfumes |
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What You'll Learn
Test on blotter strips first
Testing perfume on blotter strips is a great way to get a true sense of a scent. Blotter strips provide a neutral medium for smelling and evaluating the aromatic compounds, providing a truer, more complete impression of the fragrance. They are the standard sniffing test to judge the smell of the formula and see how it develops.
When you smell a perfume or fragrance directly from the bottle, you are primarily smelling the top notes of a scent. These are the most prominent notes, but they are also the shortest-lived. By testing fragrances on a blotter strip, you can unlock the middle and base notes to get a more accurate impression of how the fragrance will smell once it's in a wax or soap base. The middle notes, or heart, balance out the top and base notes, and the base notes lend depth and longevity to the aroma.
To test a perfume on a blotter strip, first, make sure you are in a well-ventilated area with no other odors that could interfere with your fragrance. Write the name of the fragrance on one end of the blotter strip. Then, bend the other end about 2 inches in and dip it into the bottle. Hold the blotter strip about an inch from your nose and smell to evaluate. If you want to test how two fragrances would smell when blended, use two blotter strips. For a 50/50 mix, dip both to the same level and hold them together while evaluating the scent.
It's important to note that everyone's skin is different, and this can affect how a fragrance smells. Some people's skin may hide notes, while others absorb multiple notes. This makes the experience of smelling a fragrance extremely personal and biased. Testing on blotter strips first provides an objective way to smell a fragrance and evaluate its performance.
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Try on skin
When testing perfumes, it is important to consider how the fragrance interacts with your unique skin chemistry. Body chemistry has a major effect on fragrances, and what smells great on one person might not work on another.
To test a perfume on your skin, apply a small amount to your wrist, behind your earlobe, or the base of your neck—these pulse points will help the scent develop as the warmth of your skin activates it. Avoid rubbing the perfume into your skin, as this can affect the integrity of the fragrance notes. Instead, gently wave your wrist under your nose to test the scent, and wait a few minutes to allow it to meld with your skin and reveal the heart and base notes.
Give the perfume several hours to fully develop and unfold its scent profile. Observe how the scent evolves over time and take note of its longevity and projection. The oiliness of your skin may also affect how long the scent lasts, as oilier skin types tend to retain the fragrance for longer.
If you are testing multiple perfumes, avoid applying them all at once to prevent olfactory fatigue. Instead, test one fragrance at a time and wait at least 20 minutes between each scent to avoid confusing your sense of smell.
When testing perfumes on your skin, choose a time in the morning, as your sense of smell tends to be sharper then. Warmer months can also enhance your fragrance perception.
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Avoid rubbing wrists
When testing perfumes, it's important to avoid rubbing your wrists together after application. This is because rubbing can mix the perfume with what's already on your skin, altering the scent profile. By rubbing your wrists together, you risk warming up the scent and causing it to evaporate more quickly.
Instead of rubbing, it's recommended to let the perfume settle for a few minutes. This will allow you to observe how the fragrance develops over time and how it interacts with your body's natural chemistry. Each perfume has different notes that unfold as the fragrance dries down, so it's worth being patient.
If you're testing multiple perfumes, it's best to test them one at a time. Start by spraying the perfume on a blotter strip or paper strip to get an initial impression. Avoid rubbing the strip, as this can contaminate the scent. If you like the scent on the strip, you can then proceed to test it on your skin, being careful not to rub your wrists together.
It's also important to give your nose a break between scents. You can do this by taking a short break, going outside for fresh air, or sniffing your own unscented sleeve or skin. This will help reset your sense of smell and ensure that you're accurately assessing each fragrance.
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Take your time
Perfume shopping is an adventure, but it can be overwhelming. Your sense of smell can only handle about three scents well before it gets confused, so take your time and don't rush the process.
When you first start testing, use blotters (paper strips) to get a shortlist of fragrances you like. Spray the perfume onto the blotter and wave it under your nose, being careful not to touch it. Close your eyes and inhale. This will give you a good initial impression of the scent, but it will smell different on your skin.
Once you've found a few fragrances you like, it's time to test them on your skin. Spray one on the inside of your left arm and another on your right arm. Avoid rubbing your wrists together, as this will warm up the scent and it will evaporate quicker. Your unique body chemistry will interact with the scent, so give it time to develop. Browse the shop, grab a coffee, or go for a walk. Then, after 15-30 minutes, smell your wrist or the back of your hand to see how the fragrance has evolved.
Remember, your sense of smell is sharpest in the morning, so try to test scents earlier in the day. And if you're testing multiple fragrances, make sure you only wear one fragrance at a time when testing.
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Don't overload your senses
When testing perfumes, it is important to not overload your senses. Your sense of smell can only handle about three scents well before it begins to get confused, after which nasal fatigue sets in. This is when everything starts to smell the same, and you are no longer able to capture the true nature of a fragrance.
To avoid scent overload, it is recommended to test only one or two perfumes per day. This will allow you to experience each fragrance fully without interference. When testing multiple perfumes, keep the scented tips away from each other to prevent the oils of one perfume from altering the scent of another.
If you are testing perfumes in a store, it is best not to spend more than 10-15 minutes smelling fragrances. Your nose will quickly become unable to distinguish the individual components in the various compositions. Instead, you can use tester strips to find a few fragrances that you think you like, and then test them on your skin.
To reset your sense of smell between fragrances, you can try smelling your own skin or clothes. This will help to clear your nose without overwhelming it with another scent. It is also recommended to take a break of a few minutes between testing different perfumes.
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Frequently asked questions
The best way to test a perfume is to apply it directly to your skin, focusing on pulse points like your wrists, behind your ears, or your inner elbow. Your body chemistry will interact with the scent, giving you a true idea of how it will smell on you.
It's best to test one perfume at a time. Your nose can only handle around three scents before it gets confused, so take your time and give each fragrance the attention it deserves.
If you're testing multiple perfumes, use blotter strips (absorbent, porous papers) to get an initial impression. Spray the perfume onto the strip, wait a few minutes, then bring it close to your nose and smell. Don't inhale too deeply—keep moving the strip to and from your nose.
It's recommended that you test no more than two fragrances on your skin at any given time. Test one on each arm or wrist, so you don't overwhelm your nose.
Your sense of smell can become overwhelmed when testing multiple fragrances. Take breaks by going outside for fresh air, drinking water, or smelling your own unscented skin.
